Band: Helfahrt
Title: Drifa
Label: Trollzorn
Distribution: SMP Records
Release date: April 30th 2010
Review: CD

Helfahrt, originating from Munich, Germany, did release two splendid albums before: Sturmgewalt (2006) and Wiedergang (2008). Besides the band was able to perform live with bands as Helheim (first big tour throughout Europe), as well as Kampfar, Equilibrium, Korpiklaani and Thyrfing, and last year the band did an intensive European tour with Gernotshagen and Odroerir.
Lyrically, the band continues their epic, mythological path, paying tribute to the early tribes and our ancestors’ superiority (more specific: honouring the German and Alpine roots), and themes as death, sorrow, loss, with our without metaphorical approach.
And also musically the band goes on in the vein of both former full lengths. Drifa opens with Wind, which is an energetic and epic Viking / Black hymn with a grim, Nordic approach. The atmospheric song comes, like any other track, with an underground-oriented nineties-approach and several tempo-changes. The latter, the tempo, varies a lot, from very slow, over mid- to up-tempo, to very fast, including several sonic accelerations. And not one single title is inferior or less interesting. No, on the contrary, this recording belongs to the best ones lately when it comes to pounding and oppressing old style-oriented Pagan / Black Metal.
It might be evident that some parts come with acoustic guitars (and even organ – Wenn Kälte Wärmt); yet again these pieces too have been performed with carefulness.
Line-up: vocalist Max Marquardt (ex-Sycronomica, Somber Serenity), Sebastian (g) and Tobias (b) Ludwig (both in Thulcandra and Nebelmythen), drummer Andreas Mecker, and guitar player Markus Klüpfel.

92/100

Ivan Tibos.